Former Olympian faces felony charge over alleged Reflecting Pool vandalism

Former Olympian faces felony charge over alleged Reflecting Pool vandalism

A former Olympic canoe racer has been indicted on a felony charge of destruction of property in Washington, D.C. Court on Thursday, July 2, 2026. David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, is accused of causing approximately $1,000 in damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the indictment at a press conference, alleging that Hearn "forcefully and violently" pulled up the pool's recently installed bottom liner using both hands in a "deliberate act." According to Pirro, National Park Service (NPS) employees witnessed the incident and ordered Hearn to stop, at which point he became "belligerent, rude and disrespectful," telling a worker she "cared too much" about the pool since it was not hers.

The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Hearn, a two-time whitewater racing world champion who competed in three Summer Olympics, has denied the allegations. He told the Associated Press that he was a "curious citizen" who stopped at the monument during a bike ride — described as 64 miles in some reports and 52 miles or 102 kilometers in others — to examine reports of algae and peeling material. Hearn stated he briefly touched a "rubbery" chunk of coating that was already peeling and still attached to the side of the pool, letting go as soon as a worker instructed him to.

Hearn reported being detained for approximately five hours by U.S. Park Police and National Guard troops on June 19 before his release. His legal counsel, including Norm Eisen and Mary Dohrmann, characterized the charges as "outrageous" and a "misuse of government power," suggesting the administration is using a "concocted narrative" to provide political cover for its own failures.

The legal action follows a high-profile renovation of the 2,030-foot pool ordered by President Trump to coincide with the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations. Trump described the new sealant as "American flag blue." While the president initially suggested the project could be completed quickly for $1.5 million, government spending has since reached nearly $14.7 million, with some reports citing costs above $16 million including algae-control technology.

The renovation has been plagued by problems. Shortly after completion, the pool experienced algae blooms and peeling sealant. Trump has attributed this damage to "disgraceful vandalism," claiming without providing evidence that individuals used knives or razors to create gashes in the liner and poured corrosive chemicals or fertilizer into the water. National Park Service officials noted a June 9 incident where a liner was cut with a sharp blade, ten days before Hearn's visit.

U.S. Attorney Pirro stated that there are "about half a dozen" other cases of alleged vandalism at the monument. An administration official told Fox News Digital that 14 police reports for vandalism have been filed, five people have been arrested on vandalism charges, and five others received federal citations.

Hearn's personal background has also become a point of contention. An administration official told Fox News Digital that Hearn is a registered Democrat who donated to ActBlue 10 times and to Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns five times. Hearn has previously had a run-in with the U.S. Park Police in 1996 for launching a canoe during an emergency closure of the Potomac River, though a judge later cleared him of those charges.